Entries tagged with: Opossum

New Zealand's OPOSSOM, who maybe you caught at CMJ, has remixed Brisbane duo DZ Deathrays's "Dollar Chills", a track from their recent LP Bloodstreams. We're premiering that remix today. Stream it along with the Cadence Weapon version of the same song and some other stuff, below...

It was the Saturday morning of CMJ, so if you were there when doors opened at noon, you were probably stumbling in hungover from the night before (unless of course, you had copped yourself some of the Mercy hangover prevention drink at our Friday party). But young Chicago-suburb punks The Orwells did a fine job of waking everyone up, including those who were camped at the door to be first in line for the free tattoos we gave out for six hours straight. As the tatto guns started buzzing, the Orwells were blasting the early but nice-sized crowd with their raunchy garage punk led by frontman Mario Cuomo's unforgiving Iggy Pop-style stage presence. Meanwhile, New Zealand psych pop project Opossum were warming up the rest of the party attendees in the back room.

Energy levels stayed high in the front room as Hunters followed, and the back room were treated to dreamier sounds by LA's Tashaki Miyaki. Then came sets by the funky Sinkane, the great, orchestral Choir of Young Believers, a strong set by indie pop band Eternal Summers, and a more than charming one by Kitty Pryde. Kitty, who spent part of her set in the crowd, was the first of four rappers in the back room, with her set followed by Ratking, Cities Aviv, and Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire (who went on after watching Miguel from the front row on the other stage) (Miguel returned the favor). And the front room was wrapped up by Hundred Waters, one of this year's buzzed about bands at CMJ, whose set we reviewed from the night earlier, and then Miguel and Caveman.

Attendees at the show were fueled by complimentary drinks courtesy of Sailor Jerry Rum, complimentary beer courtesy of PBR, and snacked on the free Raw Revolution organic live food bars that were scattered around the venue. Hopefully nobody had a hangover thanks to cans of the Mercy that were given out aplenty.

New Zealand band Opossom were here for multiple shows during last week's CMJ Festival, including the free BV not-CMJ day party at Public Assembly on Saturday (10/20) where they kicked off the second stage action. (Same day as Miguel.) Most articles you read about them mentions that main man Kody Nielson is brother to Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Ruban Nielson (they were both in Mint Chicks) and they get compared to them as well, but I don't think Opossom sound anything like UMO, owing more to a classic pop sound with baroque and psychedelic leanings. They're definitely worth checking out live... which you've got one more chance to do in NYC. Like Popstrangers are doing tonight (10/23), Opossom play Pianos on Wednesday (10/24) and advance tickets are available.

UPDATE: Opossom have cancelled their 10/26 Toronto date and are instead playing another NYC show at Cameo with ARMS and Montreal's Blue Hawaii (members of Braids).

The Pianos show, part of an Opossom tour (dates below), is also with Australia's Teeth & Tongue and Big Scary, two more CMJ holdovers, making this an other-side-of-the-world triple feature. Philadelphia's Grandchildren round out the bill.

More pictures from Opossom's appearance at the BV day party (sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, Sailor Jerry, Mercy, and Raw Revolution) and tour dates are below and look for the rest of Saturday's line-up of bands soon.

CMJ just released the third round of artists playing this year's fest which happens in three weeks (October 16 - 20). Names include Dent May (who we already knew about) Penguin Prison, Toronto's Born Ruffians, Erika Spring, Berlin trio Fenster (who were here in March) Chad Valley, Rush Midnight and more. Full list is at the bottom of this post.

Also on the just-added list are Brooklyn's Savoir Adore who will release their new album, Our Nature, the week of CMJ (10/16 specifically). The band recorded it at the same upstate studio as their 2010 debut, In the Wooded Forest, and are self-releasing this one. If the last album was wide-screen pop, the band have gone CinemaScope with Our Nature. It's dancier, more anthemic and brimming with hooks and just plain bigger sounding. Last year's "Dreamers" single (which opens the new album) is a good indicator of what to expect, and you can watch the video for that below along with a stream of album track "Regalia."

Before CMJ, Savoir Adore will play Knitting Factory on October 9 for an Our Nature record release party with Ghost Beach and Royal Canoe. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Those three bands are touring together immediately after and judging by their schedule, their only open day to play CMJ will be 10/16.

The list of all Savoir Adore dates, the list of third round CMJ artists, that song stream and video are below...